3-year deal reached with street workers, firefighters

Both unions will get pay increases

DIXON – With its latest handshakes, the city has reached a 3-year agreement for pay raises with all four unions representing its employees.

The City Council on Monday voted to approve an agreement that gives its 10 street department employees and 10 firefighters a 3 percent raise the first year of the contract and 3.5 percent raises in the second and third years.

The contract will be available for public review.

The city’s police officers and water department workers received the same pay increases in agreements reached earlier this summer.

The firefighters contract is a little different than the other three, said Police Chief Danny Langloss, also special assistant to the City Council.

Each firefighter may not necessarily get a straight 3 percent or 3.5 percent raise, however, the money the city gives toward the contract will be equal.

Firefighters restructured their pay scale to increase the amount of time it takes two reach maximum pay, Langloss said. As a result, the maximum pay will be increased, too.

All city employees negotiated a 3 percent raise last year in an agreement that expired April 30.

A committee of representatives from all four of the city’s unions will form to make changes that could save the city money on its health insurance premiums, Langloss said.

To read the contract

The contract is on file at City Hall, 121 W. Second St., or go to www.discoverdixon.org and click "union contracts" under the "Citizen's Information Center" tab. Call City Hall at 815-288-1485 with any questions.